On Friday evening, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners asked practices across the country to return to some of the infection-control measures used during COVID-19, including phone-first triage and separating patients with respiratory symptoms from others.
The change comes amid exceptional demand across the health system. This week, demand for Tend's Online Now virtual care service reached an all-time high, with consultations almost doubling compared with the same day just a fortnight ago.
Hato Hone St John declared a major incident on 9 August after its busiest day on record, while flu-related hospitalisations in Auckland have risen sharply.
Dr Graham Denyer, Chief Medical Officer at Tend Health, says vaccination remains one of the most important ways people can protect themselves and their whānau from serious illness.
“It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine. We’re seeing high levels of influenza circulating across the country and vaccination remains our best protection against becoming seriously unwell. If you haven’t had your flu vaccine yet, I’d strongly encourage you to get vaccinated now, particularly if you’re older, pregnant, have an underlying health condition or care for someone who is more vulnerable.”
Practices are also being asked to review PPE supplies, ventilation and respiratory triage arrangements as influenza cases continue to rise.
Dr Kim Hurst, Clinical Director at The Doctors, says patients may notice some changes when they contact or visit their practice.
“We're not going back into the pandemic, but we are using some of the things we learnt during COVID to reduce transmission and protect vulnerable patients. If you have respiratory symptoms, please call ahead. We can assess what you need, arrange a face-to-face appointment where that's clinically appropriate and help keep people with infectious illnesses separate from babies, older patients and those with weakened immune systems.”
How do I know if I have influenza?
Influenza often comes on quite suddenly. Typical symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle and body aches, marked tiredness, cough, sore throat and a runny or blocked nose. Some people, particularly children, can also experience vomiting or diarrhoea.
One of the things that often distinguishes flu from a common cold is just how unwell you feel. People can go from feeling relatively well to needing to stay in bed within a matter of hours.
Why might my GP ask me to call first?
Phone-first triage helps your practice assess what care you need while reducing the spread of influenza. If you have respiratory symptoms, you may be assessed by phone or online first and, if you need to be seen in person, your practice will arrange this safely.
How long does flu last and how contagious is it?
Influenza often comes on suddenly, with the worst symptoms usually improving over several days. It is common to feel unwell for a week or more and cough or fatigue can persist for several weeks.
Flu spreads easily from person to person, particularly through respiratory droplets and close contact. People can also be infectious before they realise they are unwell, which is one reason it can move so quickly through households, schools and workplaces. Staying home and limiting close contact while you're sick helps reduce transmission.
What should I do if I have flu symptoms?
For most otherwise healthy people, the starting point is fairly simple: stay home, rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be helpful for fever, headaches and muscle aches when they're appropriate for you.
Try to reduce the chance of spreading the infection within your household. Wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid sharing cups or utensils and keep rooms well ventilated.
If you do need clinical advice, use online care where possible, such as Tend's Online Now service. Virtual care can be a good first step for many respiratory illnesses and helps reduce the risk of passing infection on to other patients and healthcare teams.
If you need to attend your GP practice in person, call ahead before coming in. Your practice may ask some additional questions about your symptoms and arrange the safest and most appropriate way for you to be assessed.
When should I seek medical help?
Seek medical advice if you're becoming increasingly unwell rather than gradually improving, you're struggling to drink enough fluids or you're concerned about your breathing.
Older people, pregnant people, young children and people with significant underlying health conditions or reduced immunity should seek advice earlier because they can be at greater risk of complications.
If you're unsure, contact your GP practice or Healthline for advice.
Call 111 for severe difficulty breathing, blue lips or skin, severe chest pain, collapse, significant confusion or if someone is extremely unwell.
Is it still worth getting the flu vaccine?
Yes. With high levels of influenza still circulating, there is real value in getting vaccinated now if you haven't already.
The flu vaccine reduces your risk of influenza and, importantly, your risk of becoming seriously unwell or developing complications. It is particularly important for people who are older, pregnant, have underlying health conditions or are otherwise at greater risk from influenza.
Where should I go if I need care?
For non-urgent symptoms, contact your usual GP practice, pharmacist or use Tend's Online Now service for an online consultation.
For urgent but not life-threatening problems, contact an urgent care clinic or Health New Zealand's online GP service.
For general health advice, Healthline is available free on 0800 611 116.
For a life-threatening emergency, call 111 or go to the nearest emergency department.
The important thing is to get the right level of care for how unwell you are. Calling ahead when you have respiratory symptoms also helps healthcare teams protect vulnerable patients while continuing to care for everyone who needs us.